simonds



N0. $9,236 Patented Feb. 7, I899. J. F. SIMONDS.

TALKING BOARD INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Apr. 22, 1895.)

(No Model.)

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y/i efmn-waa ,2 MWMA' f6 n1: nomus mans ca. wovoumm WASNINOYON. 04 c UNITEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUSTIN F. SIMONDS, OF lVASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TALKING-BOARD INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,236, dated February 7, 1899.

Application filed April 22, 1895. Serial No. 546,734. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUSTIN F. SIMONDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington city, in the District of Columbia, have volving mimic electrical appliances.

Some involuntary action or occult force operates at times upon manual contact to impart movements to inert matter. Whatever name this force may be called or whatever its source, Whether developed by vital action,the force of dominant idea, or otherwise, is not material. \Vhatever the name or the source of the force, the object of my invention is to provide a device for diversion or research in which force of some kind is often manifested upon manual contact with a movable material body--such, for example, as a planchette or a table mounted on casters.

In similitude of an electrical instrument I have devised a small carriage made of wood, pasteboard, or other suitable substance mounted upon caster-wheels and provided it with a metallic plate separated from the carriage-body by a non-conducting substance. One or more binding-posts are attached to the plate. Connected with these binding-posts are insulated copper wires having metallic handles at their outer extremities to be grasped in the hand of the operator. A pointer is also affixed to the body of the carriage to indicate letters or characters to be used in the construction of words or sentences.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus complete. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the diagram with which the instrument is to be used, showing the same as folded. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the carriage, drawn to a reduced scale. Figs. 4 and 5 are modifications of the metallic plate used in connection with the carriage. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of one of the handles.

The metallic plate may have a plane surface, as shown at g in Fig. 1, or it may be corrugated or fluted, as shown at g in Fig. 4, or coiled or rolled upon itself, as at g" in Fig. 5.

A diagram or chart A, with which this instrument is used, consists of a board of wood or like suitable substance, which for convenience in handling or transportation is divided into two or more sections. The drawings represent the board as being composed of four sections 1), c, d, and e and provided with a top and bottom facin g f f of any desired flexible material. These facings are divided at certain points to permit of the folding of the board, as represented at Figs. 1 and 2. facing material may be omitted and other means adopted for uniting the sections when desired.

The body of the carriage proper is composed of a light sheet of wood, compressed paper, pulp, or like substance H, cut or molded into a substantially heart-shaped form. This body is mounted uponthree caster-wheels '5 t" i, so placed as to form a triangle. It is intended that these wheels shall support the carriage and permit it to move freely and easily in any direction. On top of the carriage-body H, I put a sheet of insulating material h, such as rubber, and over this I place a sheet or plate of copper, silver, or like substance and secure the same to the carriage by screws or nails. I provide the plate or sheet of metal with binding-posts K K, preferably two, as

means of attaching the insulated wires ZZ,

leading from handles M M, to which they are attached. Each of these handles comprises a cylinder of copper or other metal at and a stopper of rubber, cork, or wood at each end thereof, as shown at m m in Figs. 1 and 6. A hole is made through one of the stoppers m, and one end of the insulated Wire is passed through the same and bent over the inner end of the stopper, as shown at n, so that when the stopper is forced into the end of the cylinder at the wires are caught and firmly held between the stopper and the inner wall of the cylinder.

A pointer O is attached to the narrow end of the carriage, which is the forward part when in use, for indicating during the movements of the carriage the separate letters,

The

characters, phrases, or signs on the diagram or chart to be used in the construction of words and sentences for amusement or research.

In the use of this apparatus or diagram the chart A is unfolded and placed flatwise, with the printed or illustrated surface upward, upon a table or other convenient surface. The carriage is then placed upon the diagram. The insulated wires Z Z are next connected with the plate by means of the binding-posts K K, and the operators, preferably two, take positions at opposite sides of the table, each placing the tips of one or more fingers very lightly in contact with the metallic plate on the carriage, while the other hand holds one of the handles. In a short time, the operators waiting in this position, the carriage will nearly always move over the surface of the diagram or chart, and the pointer in front will indicate the letters, words, or characters required to produce intelligent phrases and sentences, or to answer questions which may be asked. The presence of the metallic plate, binding-posts, insulated copper wires, and metallic handles tends to augment the interest of the operators or users of the instrument.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A talking-board instrument comprising a carriage free to move in any horizontal direction, devices in similitude of electrical appliances consisting of a plate of copper mounted on or attached to said carriage, wires connected directly with the plate and handles attached to the extremities of the wires substantially as described.

2. A talking-board instrument comprising a carriage free to move in any horizontal direction, devices in similitude of electrical appliances consisting of a metallic plate mounted on and insulated from the carriage, wires connected with the plate and handles attached to the extremities of the wires substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. F. 'SIMO'NDS.

Witnesses:

H. N. JENKINS, H. S. WETMORE. 

